Although the final result would disagree, Reading were much improved - and really should have got the win against a Plymouth side who were outplayed for most of the game. If Reading had scored another one or two when they were already a goal to the good, which they should have done, and been victorious they would have been applauded off the pitch. As it was there were still some who choose to boo Reading at the end despite a determined showing from the Royals. There's no doubt our finishing cost us a passage straight through.

Such was Reading's will to win the game Plymouth looked most likely to create something on the break - and the main reason was because we were trying to create chances. So yes, on paper a poor result drawing at home against a lower division club. And also the late equaliser was "typical Reading". But all those fans desperately looking for some positive signs from Reading performances must have seen at least a glimmer of hope out there.

The 8,536 crowd make a mockery of the club's decisision to enforce reserved seating in the East Stand with yet another low Reading turnout. The away end was probably holding at least 2,500 travelling Plymouth fans. The Plymouth fans had arrived to make some noise and enjoy their FA Cup moment at a ground not as far away as the rest of the country. However Reading probably dimmed the noise by taking the game to Plymouth right from the kick off. It took Plymouth a full five minutes to break out of their half as Reading patiently played the ball around trying to carve out an opportunity.

For a moment it seemed like Burns football was back as Plymouth waited for the mistake in the build up and took the ball up the other end to have the first shot on target and almost take the lead. On the break the ball was crossed from the right and volleyed towards the top of Howie's net from the middle. Thankfully Howie was there to make a decent save and tip the ball over the bar. Howie continues to do nearly everything right as he attempts to keep his place as first choice keeper with Whitehead injured, even Howie's kicking was noticably improved.

The majority of the rest of the first half was all Reading although Plymouth continued to look dangerous on the break and capable of a goal with a few shots on target. We were playing an unbalanced formation with Murty and Gurney working down the right with Gurney playing right up front, while down the left Bernal was the lone player with Caskey, Evers and Parkinson all playing more traditional midfield roles. This meant that we didn't create anything down the left with Bernal expected to make runs that would leave us exposed. Down the right though Murty and Gurney were working well together. With Gurney pushed further forward than he's used to he had a couple of chances to push Reading into the lead.

One of these was a great move involving almost the entire side moving the ball patiently forward and then from left to right across the midfield until the ball was playing from the right backwards into the centre of the box leaving Gurney with a chance to blast it home. Gurney found the target but didn't get enough power onto it and didn't manage to push it to one side of the defender on the line who cleared to safety. Moments before Gurney had found himself with a similar position further out that had the power but not the position. Bernal had another Reading chance meeting a cross from the right with a header, and as Reading continued to push forward we were doing everything but score. Until eventually, with ten minutes of the half remaining our constant work down the right was rewarded.

Gurney fed Murty the ball as he made the overlapping run on the outside down the right wing. Murty cut in and played a great low cross into the box just far enough away from the keeper but only a matter of yards from the goal line. Caskey missed it or left it, and the ball came to McIntyre in the middle who slid in to send the ball flying into the back of the net. Yes! 1-0 to the Royals - and a decent well worked goal at that. Perhaps this is a sign that we're starting to understand we can't cross the ball high into the box and expect to score, low crosses like this work well with players like McIntyre and Williams up front.

At half time Williams was replaced by Keith Scott returning from injury, and then the pattern of the first half continued. Evers, who had had a very quiet first half, started to get into the game a bit more as Reading actually looked creative, but was eventually replaced by the more physical Grant. Every Reading player appeared to be giving it their all. At the back Primus and Polston were showing themselves to be the best combination Reading could possibly have at the centre of the defence by miles. They were superb, winning everything pumped forward and tackling like perfection whenever Plymouth broke. We started to fade a little down the right but it seemed OK as our midfield were looking far better than of recent times with some half decent ball distribution - particually from Caskey who played a couple of excellent balls to players running forward onto them. Sure there were the usual poor balls flying out of play - but improvement on show.

The one goal seemed that is was never going to be enough, and with eight minutes to go, Plymouth proved it wasn't. A well worked move ended up with the ball coming out from inside the Reading box to a player lurking on the edge of the area to the left. He unleashed a great shot that flew past Howie into the right of the net past a couple of players. 1-1. The Plymouth away support at last burst into life and went mental, with a few spilling onto the pitch, and the scorer ripped off his shirt in celebration. Bollocks.

With the game running out it looked like Plymouth might well grab the winner as Reading heads dropped - gutted by the last equaliser. Luckily we came back to life before it was fatal and composed ourselves seemingly ready for the draw. With just three minutes left Mass Sarr finally made his entrance in place of Gurney - who had had a great first half but a less impressive second half. It could be reasonably argued that Sarr should have come on when we were a goal up to help us push for that second goal to kill the game off. When he came on with the score at 1-1 and just a couple of minutes left it was clearly far too late. He did have one long range that flew miles wide and high - but that was only his warm up perhaps.

So more disappointment, but no reason why we can't win the replay to get another home FA Cup game against Preston in round four.